Coyote Vs Acme is a film that’s had a long trek to get to the big screen, which feels almost as arduous as that experienced by Wile E. Coyote trying to catch the Road Runner.
It was shot in mid-2022, but then shelved in late 2023 because Warner Bros would rather write-off a tax loss of $30m. In what world does that make sense over creativity? Still, they pressed ahead with the same for both Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt, neither of which ended up with a finished product.
However, now we have this, and before I get into the plot, I’d recommend going into it with a feel of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? as it’s a similar mix of animation in real-life situations.
Kevin Avery (Will Forte – Strays) is a real-life person, but a cartoon lawyer, in that he represents cartoon characters who’ve suffered in some way. Enter Wile E. Coyote, who’s suffered at the hands of Acme’s products breaking down and causing him serious injury.
It is odd that after the first court date – in which they’re up against Acme’s bent lawyer, Buddy Crane (John Cena – Little Brother), Kevin and Wile E. actually launch an investigation into the situation, alongside Kevin’s niece, Paige (Lana Condor – X-Men: Apocalypse), because surely that should come first?
Either way, Coyote Vs Acme is frequently very clever and inventive, and throws in loads of other characters, including Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig. Plus, when the cartoons are usually U-rated, at a point where the coyote was in peril, it was a bit surprising to see his sign say, “Oh shit!”, albeit slightly truncated… yet still completely legibile as to what it was MEANT to say.
I’d love a sequel to Coyote Vs Acme – not least because Forte is very funny in it, and Ms Condor is stunning, but it’s ended up with a budget of $72m, and so far, it’s only taken $40m at the box office. Hence, it’s not looking likely. That said, we never saw a follow-up to Roger Rabbit, either.
Still, come on Warner Bros, dust off the masters for Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt! You can fucking afford it!
Now, as for the seating plan situation, above, I saw this film on a Wednesday afternoon. The above plan refers to the previous Sunday, when I was initially intending to watch this. I’d booked seat C4, which is central (as are most of the ‘4’ seats, up to row F). I’d planned four films for that day, but as the day came round, some bastard trio had put their seats RIGHT NEXT TO ME! WHEN THERE ARE PLENTY OF SEATS ALL AROUND! WHO THE FUCK DOES THAT!) As it was a lunchtime showing, and I was a bit tired from the day before, I put that film off to later in the week, and started my day a bit later.
So, for the following Wednesday afternoon, all the kids had gone back to school, and surely no families would be going to the cinema and paying full whack for a film when it’ll be £4 the following weekend, which was National Cinema Weekend? Surely? Nope… I’d booked seat C5. After that, a whole fucking family filled most of row D. I couldn’t be doing with having my chair kicked for two hours from idiots who can’t sit down properly, so moved one row ahead. Not ideal, but better than being interrupted by morons.
Both times, when I saw them on the seat map… “Oh shit!”
NOTE: There are no mid- nor post-credits scenes.
Coyote Vs Acme is in cinemas now, and is available to pre-order on 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 103 minutes
Release date: August 21st 2026
Studio: Warner Bros
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 (ARRIRAW (4.5K), Anamorphic Panavision)
Cinema: Odeon Trafford Centre
Rating: 7/10
Director: Dave Green
Producers: Christopher DeFaria, James Gunn
Writers: Samy Burch, James Gunn
Based on the ‘New Yorker’ article by Ian Frazier
Music: Steven Price
Cast:
Kevin Avery: Will Forte
Paige Avery: Lana Condor
Buddy Crane: John Cena
Sal Maltese: Tone Bell
Dottie Jones: Martha Kelly
Judge Troppogrosso: Luis Guzmán
Bill Pelicanos: PJ Byrne
Henry Heslop: John Early
Cherry: Nancy Linehan Charles
Oscar Jeon: Kenneth Choi
Talon: Ernie Vigil
Bugs Bunny / Charlie Dog / Daffy Duck / Dr. Lorre / Elmer Fudd / Foghorn Leghorn / Gossamer / Porky Pig / Road Runner / Tweety (voice): Eric Bauza
Granny / Miss Prissy / Witch Hazel: Candi Milo
Tasmanian Devil: Jim Cummings
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.